i couldn't get him to walk

I took my son for a hike the other day. Getting him to walk on the trail was like pulling teeth. I think he was tired. We walked about 50 yards on each of two trails, and then, since it was a cold day, I let him play in the water.

There was a path of logs for crossing the stream at one point. The first few times we crossed it, I held his hand, but then I let him try it himself. He spent quite a while carefully picking his way back and forth across it.

It was pretty challenging for him. But each time he made it across, he got the biggest smile on his face.

Then he went to work "sawing" on this pile of debris. He wanted to climb on top of it or work on it from inside, but I drew the line at that.

A boy. A stick. Water. Sand. Boots. The hike didn't go according to my plan, but it was the perfect outing with my son.